In our modern times, some would say that all cars and SUVs look like spacecraft from the pages of science fiction. There was a day, however, when the long, flowing lines of the Auburn, Cord or Duesenberg were the kings of the road. 50 years after those disappeared, someone came along and re-created some of those lines with American underpinnings – of which this 1978 Clénet is an excellent example. This one is listed here on eBay in sunny California, USA, however if you have never heard of Clénet (pronunciation: cleh-nay or clay-nay), read on to learn more!
In the early days of what we now call the ‘malaise’ era, some people were still enamored with long-nosed, chrome-adorned art-deco masterworks of design from days gone by. To meet that request, an entrepreneurial man named Alain Clénet pitched his idea for a neo-classical automobile that combined the visuals of those masterworks with more powerful (for the time), reliable, fuel-efficient (for the time) mechanicals to a group of investors, and successfully started Clénet Coachworks in 1975. He got straight to work hiring some of the best and brightest, creating hand-built limited-edition machines in a large garage, and later an aircraft hangar, then later a dedicated facility, all in the state of California. Through ups and downs, and multiple positive high-profile public relations wins, the small group of dedicated people kept it up until financial troubles forced them to stop in 1987. At that point, one of the employees, Alfred J. DiMora was able to purchase the company and its assets. Through more ups and downs, it produced a few more vehicles and today remains in the hands of DiMora, who allegedly is working on reviving the production, still in California.
Turning our attention now to the beautiful example up for sale, it looks as though it has been in a time capsule or very rarely been outside of a controlled environment. Closer inspection reveals the more modern touches, as we see sealed-beam headlamps and what look like Harley-Davidson taillamps on the rear fenders, bucket seats, a stereo cassette player in-dash with equalizer unit, and whitewall radial tires. We’re told that it is powered by a 351 Ford V8, backed by a C6 transmission, and has only covered about 26,000 miles of road in its lifetime. No pictures or info on the undercarriage or axle ratio, but it is allegedly number 115 out of 250.
The exterior looks to have been very well-kept with its beige/tan body and brown fenders, continental kit at the rear, vinyl soft top and wood accents. Crosslaced knockoff wire wheels are wrapped in the aforementioned whitewall radial tires. Not sure if that’s a real rumble seat or just the trunk. Plenty of chrome for the style of body but not garish or excessive, about what you’d expect for a late-70s interpretation.
Inside, we see leather-looking modern seats, a real wood dash, a full complement of gages and what looks like a vintage European mid-century roadster steering wheel. There’s the cassette player and the equalizer, along with the Waterford crystal ash tray.
Under the hood we see the Ford powerplant with air conditioning and power brakes, aftermarket Mickey Thompson finned valve covers and a newer battery. The chrome exhausts are merely for show.
I’ll admit I had never heard of Clénet or any of its products, so I had to do a lot of researching for this one. Makes sense, though, as they were a very small niche company and their products sold for over $100,000 USD at the time($487,000 adjusted for inflation in 2025) when new, and sold mostly to the very affluent in American society (the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Rod Stewart, Farrah Fawcett, Wayne Newton and more) and even Pamela Sue Martin drove one as Fallon on Dynasty! It’s a pretty interesting story how the company came and went but made some pretty remarkable vehicles in a time of economic and political uncertainty, as well as a general displeasure with the mainstream offerings from the big automakers at the time.
I think it’s a neat piece and could be a nice addition to any collection, what do YOU think? Let me know in the comments!
Thank you for the write up Glantz.
Such a beautiful car should almost be granted a license plate exemption. Its so out of place on this masterpiece. Gorgeous automobile.
It’s amazing all the specialty cars that used MG Midget body tubs
At least you can still get replacement tops from Moss Motors.
The Series I cars were also available with an optional custom hardtop.
The Series I cars (250 produced) used MG passenger compartments, as the door systems were already FMVSS certified, avoiding the need for testing (or so I was told). Similarly, the Series II cars (about 190 of 250 planned produced) used new sheet metal and body components (purchased directly from VW) that formed the passenger compartment of the Volkswagen convertible. The bodies were all steel, with fiberglass one piece fenders.
Clenet was also used for Dex Dexter on DYNASTY, while Blake had Lincoln Limousines. Crystal had a ROLLS-ROYCE convertible. Alexis had two white chauffeur driven ROLLS-ROYCE. Although Ford was (as often) given credit for providing vehicles. How’s that for trivia 🤔? More? Exterior shots of the Carrington manse (in Colorado) were at Fi Lo Li, now a Historic Landmark in Woodside, California. I was fortunate enough to actually visit Fi-Lo-Li. Well, I guess I’ve been Carrington on long enough.🚘 🏰
Were you President of the “Dynasty” fan club? It is pronounced “Fee-oh-lee”
Filoli is a made-up word that comes from the first letters of William Bourn’s personal motto. The motto is “Fight for a just cause, Love your fellow man, Live a good life”.
Explanation
Filoli is the name of a historic estate in Woodside, California.
The estate was built between 1915 and 1917 by William Bowers Bourn II.
The estate was designed by California architect Willis Polk.
The estate was sold to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975.
The estate is a popular tourist destination.
The estate’s grounds include a multi-acre botanical landscape with themed sections.
The estate has been featured in movies such as Dynasty, The Wedding Planner, and Heaven Can Wait.
Thank you for not mentioning Excalibur in your write-up.
Thanks for the additional information. I know it well as a member of The National Trust. Fi-Lo-Li was also used for An Inconvenient Woman miniseries. In 1937, Lurlene Matson Roth, a shipping Heiress and her husband, William, purchased the estate. While the Bournes concentrated on entertaining, Lurlene was an equestrian. She was born September 3, 1890 and died September 4, 1985. She bequeathed Fi-Lo-Li to the Trust in 1975. When the Trust took possession, much work was needed. As to the Bournes, their love of entertaining knew no bounds. When their health failed, they were carried downstairs for their fabled parties. In the end, while parties continued on the GRAND scale downstairs, guests went upstairs for brief moments with the bed ridden couple. FI-LO-LI is a remarkable place, that I would love to visit again. Unfortunately I’m no longer able to do it. Yes, I was a BIG DYNASTY fan!
Very cool. I lived in San Mateo county many years ago. It is quite a place, no matter how one pronounces the name.
Silly vulgar display of wealth. A small fraction of that cost in 1978 would have bought so much better of a car. Buying a car because you like it is one thing, ,buying one to brag to the world about the size of your trust fund is childish, rude, and creates bad feelings from others. Of course narcissism enjoys doing that, but we all understand that, don’t we?
I worked at Clenet. Most, if not all, of the purchasers were “self made”, deriving their wealth from their efforts to build successful careers as business owners, professionals, entertainers, musicians, athletes or actors, among other pursuits.
Although Clenet is not my choice, I’m on to VERSAILLES in my Town Car! If you’ve got it, flaunt it! 🤣
Curt, I have to disagree on your viewpoint. When a person wants to spend their money on something it doesn’t and shouldn’t have anything to do with what others think or feel about it. And to dictate to others what to buy with it is depriving another person of their choice. Envy wants to possess and jealousy wants to destroy. I’ve learned to disregard what others think about my business because at the end of the day they don’t care anyway.
So I don’t see it as flaunting. Everything and anything out here is available to anyone and everyone willing to put forth the effort to get it. Now if someone doesn’t feel worthy or good enough to have something then that’s what your results are going to be.
I remember one of these from the Blake Edwards movie S.O.B.
I grew up in Santa Barbara where Clenet Coachworks had their facility. In fact, I sold my very first Porsche that I had done a modest, for a youngn’, restoration job to their body shop foreman and took an old SnapOn tool box as part of the deal.
I got to see the place from the shop floor and have always loved the look and ingenuity of these cars. Yes, they used HD tailamps and MG doors and many other repurposed parts from different vehicles were incorporated. It was the first time I’d ever seen an ‘auto assembly-line’ and I found it fascinating. They had these huge boards with essentially color coded nails driven it them that they would use to fabricate the wiring harnesses.
All in all I felt that these were well built cars and we saw them frequently in the wild all over SB. I had clients that had them for my mobile auto detailing business that I had started there as well so really got to enjoy living amongst these beauties and have always fancied owning one some day. Whenever I see one come up for sale I delve into the listing and dream of that day in the future that I do hope arrives soon…I’m not getting any younger!
Good added information. Sounds like you really enjoyed your time around the cars. The doors are just part of the entire MG Midget center used as the center section.
Yes, Clenet did do some “parts bin engineering”- Lincoln grilles, HD taillights, Suzuki front turn signals, etc. Brand new Recaro seats were stripped and reupholstered in Connolly hides. The chassis on some Series I cars were Lincoln Continentals. The Series II cars used new Mercury Marquis chassis (the bodies were removed and sold). The chassis, drivetrain, HVAC, etc. were modified as needed to accept the Clenet body.
If I’m not mistaken they used VW convertible bodies and tubs as the main components.
I am so sad, I just don’t have room in my collection for another car
Kind of cool and looks to be well done, but it ain’t $59,000 cool. Sorry in advance to those that may be offended by my opinion.
And I had a (small) hand in the Clenet story. 1978 or 1979 I worked the parts counter at Burbank Imports (MG, Jag & Triumph) and sold parts to Clenet (as well as Metropolitan Pitstop). How’s that for disparity??
I owned the sister car to the Clenet the Gatsby Cabriolet. I became enamored with these builds back in the early 80s and started saving up to buy one then life started happening and has other plans for you. I was finally able to satisfy my sweet tooth 10 years ago and you know what? That tricycle you always wanted as a child and now are finally able to get one is now impractical. Unless you are a person of diminutive stature you will find it challenging not only to drive but getting in and out of it. But it’s all about only looking good right?
Curt, I have to disagree on your viewpoint. When a person wants to spend their money on something it doesn’t and shouldn’t have anything to do with what others think or feel about it. And to dictate to others what to buy with it is depriving another person of their choice. Envy wants to possess and jealousy wants to destroy. I’ve learned to disregard what others think about my business because at the end of the day they don’t care anyway.
So I don’t see it as flaunting. Everything and anything out here is available to anyone and everyone willing to put forth the effort to get it. Now if someone doesn’t feel worthy or good enough to have something then that’s what your results are going to be.
Curt, I have quite an eclectic past and life. I didn’t come from wealth and wasn’t born in it. I would consider my family upper middle class. Never had anything handed to me. Outside of the basic needs food shelter and basic clothing I had to work for it. Friends and neighbors perceived us as wealthy because of my father owning new Cadillac limousines and hearses. It was all for show and image to give the grieving family and friends of the deceased an honorable departure.
While many people may want to believe mortuarys make a ton of money nothing is further from the truth. I got teased alot in elementary school, but in high-school everyone well many wanted to be my best friend. Mainly because my father would let me take the limousine to school. It was a fantasy to them but just an oversized car to me. Never got a big head about it. But it was infused in my taste buds to go after higher end things because that’s what I was accustomed to.
Curt, let me say this to you also. Everything comes at a cost and price. To give you an example of what I mean look up a 10-15 year old Rolls Royce. Then see how many owners it’s had and how many miles it’s been driven. You will find many times ultra low miles and multiple owners. There’s a reason for this. Now do this. Write down the VIN and call your insurance company for a quote. Next call an authorized repair shop and say you need a brake job. Next call a warranty company for coverage.
A attorney friend once told me if someone wants to sue you and take your car, GIVE IT TO THEM. They will quickly realize how much it takes for maintenance and upkeep. They don’t need a lecture or finger wag from me.
Curt, I have to disagree on your viewpoint. When a person wants to spend their money on something it doesn’t and shouldn’t have anything to do with what others think or feel about it. And to dictate to others what to buy with it is depriving another person of their choice. Envy wants to possess and jealousy wants to destroy. I’ve learned to disregard what others think about my business because at the end of the day they don’t care anyway.
So I don’t see it as flaunting. Everything and anything out here is available to anyone and everyone willing to put forth the effort to get it. Now if someone doesn’t feel worthy or good enough to have something then that’s what your results are going to be. Live and let live.
I must say that I would have never thought that a kit car could provoke such philosophical disagreement. Strange days indeed.
We have had versions of this same discussion previously. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, obviously.
A minor point- the Clenet was never a “kit car”. They were individually commissioned and were built to spec by the factory as complete vehicles only.
John,
Truth x2 on that. Freedom of expression. Ones choices should overcome others opinions. And when opinions turn into shaming or criticism then the line has been crossed. Bullying is no different.
Perhaps I used the wrong definition, I suppose “clown car” would have closer to my opinion of them. (And save the outrage, it is MY opinion and that may differ from yours.)
OMG! 😲 This Clenet is turning this into another Soap Opera, which might rival DYNASTY in length and suspense. PLEASE keep calm while Carrington on. 😅 🤣
The Clenet facility featured a (slowly) moving assembly line. Photos are available online, if interested. I worked in electrical harness and component fabrication and installation. It was a great experience working with a talented, eccentric group of craftsmen/women who all subscribed to the highest standards of workmanship and who took a great deal of pride in the products that they helped to create. It is difficult to believe that it was 42 years ago…